After taking a year off because of city funding cuts, the Oregon Symphony returns to Waterfront Park for its annual free concert, Aug. 28. The lineup is bigger and broader than in previous years.

Instead of the traditional 5 p.m. start time, the music begins at 2:30 p.m. with several additional groups performing. They include Portland Opera, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, 234th Army Band of the Oregon National Guard, Hillsboro School District Mariachi Una Voz, BRAVO Youth Orchestras and the big drums of Portland Taiko.

The Oregon Symphony's program includes an Oregon Ballet Theatre performance of the Grand Pas De Deux from George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" featuring principal dancers Haiyan Wu and Chauncey Parsons, as well as a selection from Bizet's "Carmen" with baritone Alexander Elliott.

As always, the evening ends in a blaze of guns and glory with Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" accompanied by cannons from the Oregon Army National Guard 218th Field Artillery. Then come the fireworks.

The concert is at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, in the bowl area just south of the Hawthorne Bridge. Food and beverages are available from vendors.